Process for manufacturing tiles containing decorations constituted by crystallized organic and inorganic elements

ABSTRACT

The process comprises insertion of an element in tiles by cementing, the element being obtained by sinking organic or inorganic objects into a transparent matrix made using polyester trivalent, acrylic or epoxy resin, and a subsequent hermetic crystallization of the organic or inorganic element in the transparent matrix. The system for fixing the element in the tile can be done using a paper lattice and glass fibre with silicone glue or hot-gluing done on the back of the tile, or by simple cementing between the lateral surface the transparent element and the lateral surface of the recess made in the tile. The fixture can comprise a further stage of decorative and fixture-coating on the visible side of the tile. The invention can be applied on coloured two-faces tiles so that the insert, thanks to the fact that it is transparent, can be visible on both sides.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of co-pending application Ser. No.11/201,337, filed on Aug. 11, 2005. application Ser. No. 11/201,337 is adivision of application Ser. No. 10/250,313, filed on Jun. 30, 2003.application Ser. No. 10/250,313 is the national phase of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/IT02/00276 filed on Apr. 29, 2002under 35 U.S.C. §371, which claims priority of Italian Application No.M02001A000080 filed May 3, 2001. The entire contents of each of theabove-identified applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the field of processes for decorating tiles andincludes decorations on wood bases.

BACKGROUND ART

In the field of ceramic manufacturing, specifically tiles, apart fromvarious products in which the decoration is made by applying paint indesigns on a single tile (on one or both faces of the tiles), there alsoexist products where the tile itself is made as a composition (a sort ofmarquetry) of parts of different types, generally small parts brought infrom other tiles or variously-coloured faced stones, cemented togetheralong their longer edges or onto a support.

These process can be relatively complex.

The present invention proposes to make possible an insertion of adecoration of any shape or size and, in particular a decorationconstituted by organic or inorganic elements (including flower,vegetation, shells and others) which are sunk and crystallizedhermetically within special polyester resins, trivalent, acrylic orepoxy, all having the characteristic of being transparent, setinternally of pre-cut tiles of any shape, thickness and size, made ofcottoforte or vitrified stoneware or wood.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The characteristics of the invention will better appear from thedescription of a preferred embodiment thereof herein illustrated in theform of a non-limiting embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings,which show the application in a schematic perspective view.

In the figures of the drawings, A denotes a crystallised transparentelement containing, as a perfectly-visible decorative part, naturalorganic or inorganic elements (such as flowers, vegetation, shells andso on) which are sunk and hermetically crystallised in special polyesterresin, trivalent, acrylic or epoxy, all of which have the characteristicof being transparent.

B denotes a ceramic material or wood, in the illustrated example a tile,of any shape, thickness and dimensions, made of any material, forexample cottoforte or vitrified stoneware or wood, in which a recess hasbeen made, or a seating predisposed to receive an element A.

C denotes the lateral surface of element A which can be used forpossible fixing between element A and material B.

The system for fixing element A to material B, i.e. the tile, can be ofvarious kinds. For example, it can be done using a paper lattice andglass fibre with silicone glue or hot-gluing done on the back of thetile, or by simple cementing between lateral surface C of element A andthe lateral surface of the recess made in the tile, as can be seen fromFIGS. 1 and 2.

In the accompanying figures the ceramic material or wood in a tile-shapeindicated by B can be either single-face or double-face. It can exhibitonly one face or side as the side “in-view”, i.e. visible to theobserver, or it can exhibit both faces or sides predisposed to be inview-for example, for use in a wall.

The fixture between element A and material B can comprise a furtherstage of decorative and fixture-coating on the visible side of the tileor on both sides thereof, if both sides are intended to be visible.

The invention can be applied on coloured two-faced tiles so that theinsert, thanks to the fact that it is transparent, can be visible onboth sides.

In the case of single-facing application in a traditional tile, theinvention can be coloured on one side using any type of glaze, with theaim of achieving a colour match (or scheme) with the surface of thesupport tile.

The invention achieves the aim of opening a new field of industrialapplication of special interest, both technological and artistic, takinginto account the particular beauty of the compositions which can beobtained through the use of natural elements of any kind, both organicand inorganic, in a transparent matrix which enables the elements to beseen.

Element A can have a decorative function, as a single piece to be usedas an insert, fillet or edge, and can either partially or totallysubstitute floors and coverings.

1. A flat tile having two major faces and having an opening extendingentirely therethrough from one said face to the other said face, and atransparent matrix which contains decorative objects, the matrix beingfixed in said opening and the decorative objects being visible from bothsaid faces of the tile.
 2. A flat tile having two major faces, the tilehaving a body of transparent matrix which contains decorative objects,said objects being readable on both the tile faces, the tile being usedas a single piece as an insert, fillet or edge, and partially or totallysubstituting floors and covering.